Handle for football dummies



2 SHEETS-SHEET. 1

H. D. WYNN HANDLE FOR FOOTBALL DUMMIES FIG. 4

Feb. 19, 1952 Filed March 25, 1949 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS.

Feb. 19, 1952 H. D. WYNN 2,586,283

HANDLE FOR FOOTBALL DUMMIES Filed March 25, 1949 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 FIG. 5

INVENTOR.

H. D. Wynn 1 BY m,

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Feb. 19, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HANDLE FOR FOOTBALL DUMMIES Herman Delmos Wynn, Knoxville, Tenn. Application March 25, 1949, Serial No. 83,466

4 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in handle structure for football dummies.

Theobject of this invention is the provision of improved means for very durably securing supporting and holding handles to football dummies.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent during the course of the following detailed description.

In the accompanying drawings wherein for the purpose of illustration are shown several forms of the improved football dummy- Figure 1 is a side elevation of an improved bell-shaped or straight tapered sided dummy.

Figure 2 is a vertical cross sectional view taken thru the improved football dummy of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the football dummy.

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view show ing the construction of a holding and supporting handle connected at each side of the dummy.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view showing the body pattern of the dummy cover of Fig. 1.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary inside view of the top wall pattern of the dummy cover.

Figure '7 is a cross sectional view taken substantially on the line 'l! of Figure 4.

Figure 8 is an enlarged fragmentary cross sectional view showing the manner of sewing an end wall to the body of the container cover.

Figure 9 is a side elevation of a straight vertical sided football dummy constructed according to the principles of the dummy illustrated in the other figures.

In the drawings, wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts thruout the several views, the letters A and B may designate respectively the forms of invention shown in Figures 1 and 9, and so far as applicable similar reference characters designate similar parts thruout the views showing the two forms of invention. In the form of invention A, an inflatable tube or bladder C is housed within a canvas cover D; the latter being provided with an improved handle structure D.

The cover D may be made of fabric or any other approved material of a flexible and durable nature. It includes a body wall structure ll], of frusto-conical shape, as shown in the fragmentary view, Figure 5; the marginal sides of which are folded inwardly and stitched to form a seam H. A normally flat bottom wall I2 is inwardly lapped over the lower marginal portion of the base end of the body wall l0, and they are stitched together to form a joint l3, shown in Figure 2.

The inflatable bladder or tube 0 is preferably of rubber or other synthetic material having a frusto-conical shaped tapered body wall i5, and bottom and top walls I 6 and [1 respectively. The latter are normally flat when the tube is deflated. The top wall I! is centrally provided with a conventional air inlet and check valve F, which functions similar to a conventional tire valve and the stem of which extends axially of the tube C, as shown.

The top wall structure 20 of the textile covering D is formed of a pair of segments 2| and 22 (see Fig. 6), the chord edges of which are lapped or folded upon the under surface of the seg ments, as shown at 23 and 24 respectively, and stitched at 25 to hold the fold. The segment 22 reinforcing lap 24 terminates short of the circumferential edges of the segment, and there extension flaps 26 are provided which overlap upon the ends of the lap reinforcement 23 of the segment 2|. Stitching 21 at these joints connects the segments 2| and 22 together, as shown in Figure 6. Thus the top wall 20 of the covering D is provided with a slit or opening 36 thru which the bladder or tube C may be inserted or removed. Lacing eyelets or grommets 3| are provided along the lap reinforcements23 and 24, as shown in Figure 6, for receiving a lacing cord 35, by means of which to draw the segments together and close the opening 30, as shown in Figure 3. The valve F may extend thru the slit when the dummy is assembled, or it may be folded inwardly beneath the cover, if desired.

A circular disc-shaped protecting flap 3'! is stitched at 38 upon the under side of the segment 2| and this is folded over the under side of the top wall 20 beneath the slit or opening to protect the bladder from the lacing and eyelets, and from protruding thru the opening in the top wall. This flap 3'! has a grommet or eyelet39 thru which the stem of valve F may extend.

The top wall 20 is peripherally lapped over the top margin of the body wall I0, as shown in Figure 8 and this lap joint is stitched together as at 40.

One of the important features of this invention is the provision of a durable handle structure.

capable of effectively withstanding the abuse to which the handles or holding straps of football dummies are subjected. It is well known that ordinary handles not only need frequent replacement, but are so flimsily attached that at times the entire external covering of the football dummy is destroyed. I v

The details of the handle structure E are shown in Figures 2, 4 and 17.

The handle assembly E comprises a strap handie 50 of flexible textile webbing doubled upon itself to provide a handle loop 60; the two end lengths of the webbing 58 being spread apart, as shown at GI and 62, in Figure 4 of the drawings. For each of the handle structures E the cover wall H1 is provided with a slit or opening 53, shown in Figure 7, thru which the webbing 50 extends; the loop-'60lying exteriorly of the cover and the two divergent'endsfil and 62 lying upon the inside surface of the wall and being double stitched thereto as at 55, for the entire lengths thereof.

For reinforcing purposes and as a protection for the bladder C, a flexible textile cover orflap 61, shown in outline in Figure 4, is marginally stitched as at 68 to the wall [0. The stitchingtS for the webbing 50 is also stitched thru this flap or cover 61.

In order to prevent tearing of the cover or jacket'D at the location where the webbing handle extends thru the opening 63, a very strong reinforcing patch 1B is provided, having an opening 1! thru which the loop end of each handle 50 extends. The reinforcing patch 18 is preferably of thick leather or other material, having a very hightear resistance. 'The patch 10 is marginally stitched at '15 to'the jacket wall I'll and'the reinforcing patch Bl; the stitching also extending across the branched portion of the'webbing, as indicated inFigure 4. As an additional protection, a line of heavy stitching, shown at if in Figure 4 ofthe drawings, extends across the patch 10 and thru all of the underlying material and also across-the handle 50 just above the point where the webbing extends thru the patch opening '11. 'Ihisstitchin'g willprobably give way under extreme use at-a location above where the loop extends thru the patch opening, but the same under ordinary usage-is capable of supporting "the dummy withoutrupture, so that direct strains need not be placed on the materials at the openings thru which the loop'extends. Of 'coursethe patch and reinforcing assemblage is so constructed that, if the stitching '17 .does tea-r loose 'at'thislocation, the same willpreventtearing or'ripping'of anypart of th'e'handle structure, jacket or patch, even under conditions of extreme strain.

Two of'thehan'dle structures E are located at diametrically opposed sides upon the dummy A, and also 'uponth'e dummy B, at the upper ends of the dummies.

The structure of the dummy B, except for shape, is identioalwith respect to'that abov'edescribed for the football dummy A. The main difference is that the :jacket D has astraight'ver- 'tical side and end wall structure, and the inflatable tube or bladder for the dummy B'is similarly'shaped.

Itis withinthescope for this invention to provide the football dummyofithis invention of rubher "or composition rubber impregnated flexible textile, capable in itself of sustaining a desired air pressure, and in which case the inflatable bladder structure need not be provided.

It'will be apparent from the foregoing that an improved football blocking dummy has been provided of an extremely durable construction, without ballast and of little bulk when deflated.

Variations may be made "from the structure de- .-sc'r"ibe'd. For instancath'e air valve could be provided in the side structure of the dummy if found desirable.

As above mentioned, the top'and'bottom walls of both the jacket or covering and the inflatable bladder are normally flat when the structure is deflated, but these top and bottom walls will bulge outwardly in slightly rounded shape, as shown in the drawings, when the bladder is inflated.

Various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be made to the form of invention herein shown and described without departingfrom the spirit of theinvention or the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

l. A handle structure for securement to the jackets of football dummies and the like comprising in-combination with a flexible body portion havinga slit therein, a handle webbing doubled upon itself and extended thru said slit opening to provide 'a hand loop portion externally of the body .portion, the hand loop being intimately doubled upon itself and the ends of the webbin disposed internally within the body portion being laterally arranged in divergent relation towards the free ends thereof, and'reinforci'ng means 's'e curing said divergent end portions to the body portion.

2. In a handle structure for attachmentto the body casing portions of football dummies and'the like, the combination of a body portion having a slit therein, a handle webbing doubled uponitself and extended thru said slit openin'gtoprovide an external hand loop and ends of the webbing overlying the inside of the body portion and stitohed thereto, a reinforcing member "externally upon the body portion surrounding said slit and secured to said body portion, and an internal reinforcing flap secured to the inner surface of the body portion and overlying the'end's of the handle webbing and secured thereto.

3. A football dummy comprising a jacket struc ture having a slit-like opening'therethrma'flexible'webbing handle doubled upon itself to provide a loop and freeends, the free ends'extending thru said slit o'pening'to overlie theundersurface of the jacket structure withth-e loop extending externally of the jacketstructure, said ends being arranged in divergent relation upon the inner surface of the jacket structurefacovering patch secured to said jacket structure over-the ends of said webbing, and-a-durable reinforcing patch of flexible material having aslit opening therein for receiving therethru the loopend of the webbing, said reinforcing patch lying exteriorly upon the jacket structuresurroundlng the-slit opening of the jacket and being-fixedly secured to said jacket structure.

4. A football dummy comprising-a jacket structure having opposed handle structures secured therewith, the jacket structure for each of said handle structures having ahorizon-tal sli-to-pening therein between the top and bottomthereof. each of said handlestrfictures including aflexible webbing doubled upon itself to provide a handleloop and two free ends, the :free ends extending thru said slit and-overlying the undersurface of the jacket structure, with the handle loopextendingexternally of the jacket structure, said ends of the strap being arranged in divergent relation upon the inner surface of the jacket structure 'fromthe "slit so as to cover: an'appreciable area'ther'eof and beingstitched and retained in such relation to said jacketstructu're, a-covering patch secured to said jacket-structureupon the inner-surface thereof entirely covering "the ends of said handle and extending across-said-sli't to a point therebeyond, and a durable reinforcing patch "of flcxible "material having a slit-opening 5 6 therein aligning with the slit of said jacket and receiving therethru the loop end of the webbing, UNITED STATES PATENTS said reinforcing patch externally bordering the Number N D t slit opening of the jacket and being fixedly 1,261,159 olwell Apr. 2, 1918 cured to the jacket structure. 5 1,544,110 stall June 30, 1925 HERMAN DELMOS WYNN- 1,910,739 Brady May 23, 9 3

REFERENCES CITED 11mm e 4 The following references are of record in the file of this patent: l0 

